Field Hockey

MIT Falls to No. 14 Springfield, 3-0

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Two second-half goals by Eileen Jenkins helped power nationally-ranked No. 14 Springfield College to a 3-0 victory over MIT in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) field hockey game on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Pride improved to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference while the Engineers' ledger lowered to 4-8 overall and 1-3 in the NEWMAC.

MIT opened the contest by earning a penalty corner, but the ensuing shot was wide. From that point on, Springfield maintained possession of the ball. The Pride generated four shots before it got on the board with 10:46 left in the half. During a scramble in front of the net, Morgan Rein corralled the loose ball and found Brittany Veazie for what proved to be the game-winning goal. Springfield continued to attack, but it could not extend its margin before the break.

The Pride continued to control the ball in the second stanza, eventually recording its second goal in the 47th minute. A defensive miscue by MIT at the midfield resulted in a Springfield fastbreak and allowed Jenkins to tally her sixth goal of the season as her shot hit the inside of the left post.

The Engineers' best chance to end the shutout occurred at the 17:22 mark. A shot by Danielle Smith was blocked and set up a penalty corner. On the corner, Cristina Stefanescu sent a strike to the far side of the net which was turned away due to a diving save by the Pride's Julia Kincade. Springfield thwarted any hopes of a momentum shift when Jenkins found the back of the net in the 60th minute.

MIT netminder Alexa Herman withstood a barrage of shots as the game closed and finished the day with 18 saves. For the Pride, Emma Kaplan and Kincade shared goalkeeping duties. Kaplan earned the win without registering a save while Kincade made one stop during the second half.

Both teams will continue NEWMAC play on Tuesday, October 9. MIT will host Wellesley College while Springfield will make the trip to WPI.